Power bucket

Abstract

A bucket for a power shovel is disclosed which includes a first and second bucket half. Each bucket half includes a pair of elongated pivot arms having a scoop secured to one end of the pivot arm. The scoop includes spaced apart front and back walls, a bottom wall and a generally horizonal cutting edge which extends along one edge of the bottom wall between the front and back walls. The other ends of the pivot arms on one bucket half are pivotally secured to the pivot arms on the other bucket half so that the bucket halves are movable between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the open sides of the bucket halves register with each other to contain cargo within the interior of the bucket whereas, in their open position, the open ends and the digging edges of the bucket are spaced apart from each other. A head is disposed above the bucket halves and is secured to the bucket halves by cables which extend from the head and to each scoop. A closure cable is then secured to the bucket halves for moving the halves between their open and their closed position. Additionally, the length of the cables together with the connection point between the cables and the bucket halves are arranged so that the cutting edge moves substantially in a horizontal plane as the bucket halves are moved between their open and their closed position.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cargo bucket comprising: a first and second bucket half, each bucket half having a pair of spaced pivot arms, a scoop secured to one end of each pair of said pivot arms, each of said scoops having a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, and a generally horizontal cutting edge extending along one edge of said bottom wall between said front and back walls, each said bucket half having an open inside,   means for pivotally securing the other ends of said pairs of pivot arms together about a common pivot axis so that said bucket halves are movable about said means pivoting between an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position said open ends register with each other to contain cargo within an interior of the bucket and wherein in said open position said open ends of said bucket halves are spaced apart from each other so that said open inside of said bucket halves face generally downwardly,   a head,   a first pair of cables, said first pair of cables being secured at one end to said head and being secured at a connection point at their other ends to one bucket half at a position spaced from said pivotal securing means,   a second pair of cables, said second pair of cables being secured at one end to said head and being secured at a connection point at their other ends to the other bucket half at a position spaced from said pivotal securing means,   means including a cable and pulley connecting said bucket halves together at said scoops for pivotally moving said bucket halves from said open to said closed position, and   wherein said cables are dimensioned in conjunction with their connection point with said bucket halves so that said cutting edge moves in a substantially horizontal plane as said bucket is moved between said open and said closed positions while said head remains in a substantially constant vertical position.   
     
     
       2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivot arms are elongated. 
     
     
       3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said cables are connected to a midpoint of said front and back walls of each said bucket half. 
     
     
       4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each bucket half is of a welded steel construction. 
     
     
       5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotal securing means comprises a cylindrical tube extending through registering openings on said bucket halves. 
     
     
       6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said pivotally moving means comprises a closure cable, said closure cable extends through said head, around a pulley on one bucket half and secured to the other bucket half.